Lennie Merullo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lennie Merullo |
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| Shortstop | |||
| Born: May 5, 1917 East Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
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| Died: May 30, 2015 (aged 98) Reading, Massachusetts, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 12, 1941, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 22, 1947, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .240 | ||
| Hits | 497 | ||
| Home runs | 6 | ||
| Runs batted in | 152 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Leonard Richard Merullo (May 5, 1917 – May 30, 2015) was a talented American baseball player. He played as a shortstop for the Chicago Cubs. His career in Major League Baseball (MLB) lasted from 1941 to 1947. After playing, he became a scout for MLB teams for over 50 years. He helped find new baseball talent from 1950 to 2003.
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Playing for the Chicago Cubs
Lennie Merullo grew up in East Boston, Massachusetts. He became a key player for the Chicago Cubs. He played shortstop for seven years in the major leagues during the 1940s.
He was part of the 1945 World Series team. The Cubs played against the Detroit Tigers in that series. Famous players like Hal Newhouser and Hank Greenberg were on the Tigers. The Tigers won the series in seven games. This was the last World Series the Cubs played in until 2016.
Lennie Merullo was the last player alive from that 1945 Cubs team. He was also the oldest living former member of the Cubs for a time. His major league career started in 1941. From 1942 to 1945, he was the main shortstop. He played alongside Stan Hack at third base and Phil Cavarretta at first.
In 1946, Lennie shared the shortstop position with other players. But he got the job back full-time in 1947. During his time with the Cubs, Lennie was known for having one of the fastest throwing arms in baseball.
Becoming a Baseball Scout
After his playing career, Lennie Merullo continued to work in baseball. He became the chief scout for the Chicago Cubs from 1950 to 1972. A scout's job is to find new, talented players for a team. One of the players he signed was Moe Drabowsky, a relief pitcher.
In 1973, he left the Cubs. He joined the new Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau. He worked there until he retired in 2003. He was 85 years old when he retired. He spent more than 50 years helping find future baseball stars.
His Family and Baseball
Lennie Merullo had four sons. His oldest son was nicknamed "Boots." This nickname came from a famous game on September 13, 1942. Lennie made four errors in one inning during that game. He had just found out his wife had given birth to their son.
The next day, Chicago newspapers joked that his new baby should be called "Boots." This was to remember the errors.
Lennie's son, Boots, later played baseball in the minor leagues. Lennie's grandson, Matt Merullo, also played in the major leagues. Matt played for six years, mostly with the Chicago White Sox. Matt Merullo later became a scout and a manager.
Later Life and Awards
Lennie Merullo passed away on May 30, 2015. He was 98 years old. He died due to problems after a stroke. The Chicago Cubs announced his death.
Lennie received several awards for his long career in baseball. In 2000, he was named to the first class of the Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame. He had led the Barnstable Townies to a league title in 1935.
He was also named Scout of the Year in 1990. In 2006, he received the important Judge Emil Fuchs Award. This award is given for long and excellent service to baseball.
